Hello all FMLer's. after reading a post from ed I felt a strong anger building inside of me.. Okay I understand when you are adopting a ferret or for that matter any beloved animal you dont really know who you are giving them to..so yes I understand you must be quite careful but sheesh some of the requirments are kind of strong dont you think? I own three beloved ferrets and I didnt know one single thing when I found my first one that was dumped in a cage on a cold wet December morning out by the front door where I worked..Okay so I didnt know anything at all about ferrets but I did know he needed food water a warm place to live .. I bought a book on ferrets read up on them and got to understand them I did take him to the vets the very next day and he got his shots and I was told me was malnurished and mistreated..so my job was to be a mommy to him and I must say I am taking very good care of him..he is 5-6 years young and very healthy..I think you are being overly paranoid and cautious when you interview an intended ferret adopter..Any one that really wants a pet must first learn all about them and commit to their health and safety but sheesh I would fail if I was to adopt from your shelter..I dont have the luxurary of the ferrets having their own room and I smoke but never near them not even in the same room the door is closed where they are.. I do agree that children under a certain age are not a good idea when you own a ferret..You do have some very good points but some are way overly paranoid..sorry if I am hurting your feelings but I am entitled to my own point of view and alot of other people who are trying to adopt from your shelter feel the very same way I do... I am also going to say forcing people to read a book first and then take lessons how to handle a ferret etc is a bit exteme and I for one would be insulted and not adopt any ferret at your shelter..Like I said I understand you must have rules and see that the person wanting to adopt a ferret understands how to take care of them and understand them but no one is perfect including you.. There is no *one*right way to love and take care of ferrets..everyone is unique..does that mean if I dont handle the ferret exactly as you do I am a bad ferret owner or irresponsible because I love them differently then you do??Your rules are almost like Russia and I am sorry I will NOT go to your shelter if I ever want to adopt.. The one I adopted two from last year made sure I was who I said I was and I had to prove the landloard allowed ferrets there and that I understood I had to take them to the vets within a week and then send her a copy of the exam and shots they received but I wan never told I had to read a book and then take lessons on how to love and handle them...I spent over three hours there and she knew by the time I made my mind up to adopt the two brothers I was a good ferret owner..you can see by how I was with them you cant fake loving an animal for that long.. [MR] [Posted in FML issue 2627]